Learning German is mandatory to receive assistance
Starting from 2026, German language courses and integration support programs in Austria will be restructured. Access to integration assistance will be linked to three essential conditions: learning the German language, readiness for the labor market, and understanding community values. This plan will be implemented as part of the mandatory government integration program.
Integration Minister Claudia Blackolm announced that attending German courses alone will no longer be sufficient to receive social assistance. Participants will be required to fully commit, or deductions will be imposed on the assistance. She emphasized that those living in Austria must become part of the community, which includes learning the German language.
Language courses will be offered locally in cities and villages in cooperation with states and municipalities, and digital means will be used more extensively starting next year. The minister confirmed that those who do not participate seriously in these programs will face consequences, which reinforces the seriousness of participants' commitment.
The government expects that, thanks to these new sanctions, the number of beneficiaries will decrease, and thus the need to provide a large number of programs will diminish. Blackholm noted that the sanctions increase the commitment of participants in the courses.
In parallel, the acceptance rate of asylum applications has decreased by two-thirds compared to last year, and therefore the general budget for 2025 and 2026 will be adjusted. After allocating 60 million euros in 2024, in addition to 67 million euros as a reserve, 87 million euros will be allocated annually in 2025 and 2026 for these programs.